R.Sreedhar v. Union Of India

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 16.09.2021 CORAM :

THE HON'BLE MR.SANJIB BANERJEE, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE P.D.AUDIKESAVALU W.P.NO.17438 OF 2021 R.Sreedhar ... Petitioner in Person .Vs.

1. The Union of India, Rep. by its Education Secretary, Chief Secretariat, Goubert Avenue,

2. The Director of Education, Directorate of School Education, Education Department,

3. The Chairman, Puducherry Schools Education Advisory Board, Education Department, ... Respondents PRAYER:- Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking issuance of a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to establish a separate Board for school education especially for Standards X and XII exclusively for the Union Territory of Puducherry.

For the Petitioner :

Mr.R.Sreedhar Petitioner-in-Person For the Respondents :

Mr.Syed Mustafa Government Pleader (Pondy)

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by the Hon'ble Chief Justice) The petitioner complains of an independent board for school education not being set up in Puducherry, particularly for classes 10, 11 and 12.

2. In the light of the increasing population and the number of school-going children, it may be in the best interest of the students if a board or individual boards for primary and secondary education or even higher education were constituted. However, that is a decision exclusively within the domain of the executive.

3. Accordingly, W.P.No.17438 of 2021 is disposed of by permitting the petitioner to make a fresh representation to the Secretary responsible for education in the Union Territory of Puducherry. The Secretary will consider the representation in appropriate perspective, particularly considering the many schools which have mushroomed in Puducherry itself and the need for providing a distinct curriculum or even process for students in Puducherry delinked from what is followed in the State of Tamil Nadu.

4. If such representation is made by the petitioner within the next four weeks, the concerned Secretary should furnish a speaking reply to the petitioner within 12 weeks of the receipt thereof. It is hopped that expeditious appropriate steps would be taken by the Union Territory of Puducherry to best serve the interest of the school-going students in the Union Territory. There will be no order as to costs.

Sd/- Assistant Registrar(CS VII) //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar bbr To 1.

The Education Secretary, Union of India, Chief Secretariat, Goubert Avenue,

2.

The Director of Education, Directorate of School Education, Education Department, 3.

The Chairman, Puducherry Schools Education Advisory Board, Education Department, W.P.NO.17438 OF 2021 MG(CO) PBS/22/09/2021